         sbrs (map (fn [sbid v] {:idb sbid :value v}) sbids (iterate inc 1))
         pstep (+ (quot bcnt acnt) (if (> (mod bcnt acnt) 0) 1 0))
         ;; bcnt records divided into acnt partitions
-        sbrs-parts (partition pstep pstep nil sbrs)]
+        sbrs-parts (partition pstep pstep nil sbrs)
+
+        ;; make sure we page
+        fetch-size (max 1 (quot bcnt 10))]
 
     (testing "write initial records"
       (let [trs (flatten

            a-denorms (->> isars
                           (s/buffer 5)
                           (s/map (fn [isar]
                                    (rel/denormalize cassandra sa isar :upsert (ts/default-timestamp-opt))))
                           (s/realize-each)
                           (s/reduce conj [])
                           deref)

            b-denorms (->> isbrs
                           (s/buffer 5)
                           (s/map (fn [isbr]
                                    (rel/denormalize cassandra
                                                     sb
                                                     isbr
                                                     :upsert
                                                     (ts/default-timestamp-opt
                                                      {:fetch-size fetch-size}))))
                           (s/realize-each)
                           (s/reduce conj [])
                           deref)
